By Associated Press
Montgomery, AL – Rebuilding the leaking Alabama-shaped pool at the Governor's Mansion is costing the state a little more than 75-thousand dollars.
The governor's spokesman, Jeff Emerson, said a new gunite pool was built within the existing Alabama-shaped pool. He said the old pool had seven leaks and had been losing 4 inches to 6 inches of water a day.
After contacting three pool companies, the state selected Cox Pools of the Southeast, a business with offices in Dothan and Orange Beach.
Work started on the project in February and was recently completed.
A spokeswoman for the state Finance Department said leaving an empty, leaking pool in the back yard of the Governor's Mansion was not an option because thousands of people visit the mansion each year, and that would reflect poorly on the state.
The new pool retains the shape of Alabama, with swimmers entering through what would be the coastal counties of Mobile and Baldwin.
Gunite is a less-expensive vinyl that is usually used for residences.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)